Class 9 was the most popular class among the 45 classes of goods or services.

Class 9 goods include computers, computer programs and software, smartwatches, smart phones, etc. The popularity of class 9 could be explained by the rapid advancement of
technology in the class 9 areas. New products and brands have been developed.

Some Class 42 services are closely related to Class 9 goods.

3 Least Wanted Classes

How about the least wanted classes of goods or services that gained the lowest number of protection granted through a designation of Japan in an International Registration according to
the Madrid Protocol, in 2017?

Here are bottom 3 classes:

Class 13 26 - firearms, etc.

Class 23 35 - yarns and threads, etc.

Class 15 54 - musical instruments, etc.

Class 13 was the least wanted. As a matter of fact, possession of firearms is basically prohibited under the laws of Japan.

TOP 10 Most Japan Designating Countries (Offices of Origin) in an International Application

The below list shows from which Offices of Origin, Japan was most designated in an International Application according to the Madrid Protocol, in 2017.

Here are TOP 10 most Japan designating Offices of Origin and the number of designations of Japan:

USA 3,872

EUIPO 2,929

China 1,475

France 1,335

Germany 1,258

Switzerland 1,062

Italy 869

UK 844

Korea 633

Australia 623

6 Offices of Origin are from European (mostly EU) countries or region.

Next, let's look at which trademark filing route, either direct national filing or filing through the Madrid system, was more chosen when trademark
owners from these 9 countries (EUIPO excluded) sought protection of their trademarks in Japan in 2017.

Which Filing Route is More Chosen When Legal Protection of a Trademark is Sought in Japan?

This data details the number of national trademark applications filed in Japan, and the number of designations of Japan in an International Application according to the
Madrid Protocol, by countries listed above, excluding EUIPO, in 2017.

Countries

TOTAL

of (1) and (2)

(1)
# of trademark applications

(2)

# of designation of Japan

% of Use of Madrid system

(2)/TOTALx100

US

8,789

4,984

3,805

43%

China

8,464

6,946

1,518

18%

France

1,808

325

1,483

82%

Germany

2,384

329

2,055

86%

Switzerland

1,451

324

1,127

78%

Italy

1,346

142

1,204

89%

UK

1,597

500

1,097

69%

Korea

2,264

1,602

662

29%

Australia

760

141

619

81%

From European countries and Australia, more than 69 % of protection of a trademark was sought in Japan using the Madrid system in 2017. The highest percentage to have chosen the
Madrid route was 89% by Italy, followed by 86% by Germany and 82% by France.

Some of the European countries listed here are the initial members and the main users of the Madrid system.

For European countries and Australia, Japan may be one of the multiple countries where trademark owners seek protection of a trademark according to their global marketing
strategy and trademark portfolio management. The Madrid system would work effectively and efficiently for such trademark owners.

On the other hand, only 43% of US trademark owners chose the Madrid route.

The US trademark law adopts the first to use rule. Identifications of goods and services must be specific and narrow. And, the range of goods and services covered under an
International Application can not go beyond those of its basic applications or registrations. It would be the disadvantage for the US trademark
owners to use the Madrid system in seeking protection in the countries where broader protection permitted.

Trademark owners in China and Korea used the Madrid route for about 18% and 29%, respectively, of all the trademark protection sought in Japan in 2017.

These 2 countries are geographically much closer to Japan than the other countries listed here. It could be safely assumed that more companies in China and Korea are
interested in expanding their market targeting especially in Japan, maybe as a first step to go global.

If you have better explanations of those numbers or any comments on this, please post it from below. We love to hear your opinions. Thanks.